Question

Can a scalar be negative?

Answer 1

I don't think so, scalar has no direction

Answer 2

because it is a number, a scalar quantity so it can not be negative because it has no direction

Answer 3

thats what i was thinking,

Answer 4

Yeah that's true and everytime we wanna find the scalar we put absolute values to it, like what Lewin did

Answer 5

A Scaler can be negative

Answer 6

@bobbanana, go on ...

Answer 7

Real numbers are called scalers

Answer 8

When you multiply a vector by a scalar quantity, can't that quantity be a negative?

Answer 9

yes therefore a scaler can be negative

Answer 10

That is in lin algebra?

Answer 11

Yes

Answer 12

Real numbers are called scalers and they relate to vectors in a vector space through the operation of scalar multiplication. ( where a vector can be multiplied to get another vector)

Answer 13

@bobbanana how can you see a word spelled correctly over and over again, and yet still spell it incorrectly :P

Answer 14

@agent0smith it takes skills XP haha

Answer 15

Magnitudes are what strike me as values which may never be negative, however, scalars aren't as clear... certainly, in linear algebra, in the theory of vector spaces, when the field associated with a certain space is the field of real numbers, certainly a scalar may be negative?

Answer 16

@UnkleRhaukus or @terenzreignz if you're thinking in terms of speed and velocity, then a scalar quantity (speed) obv can't be negative.

Answer 17

so there are different definitions of scalar?

Answer 18

sca·lar
/ˈskālər/
Adjective
(of a quantity) Having only magnitude, not direction.
Noun
A scalar quantity.


That is the definition of a scalar on google, you can argue with it if you want, not my problemo

Answer 19

I don't think there's different definitions, it just gets used in different ways. eg for speed, negative doesn't make sense. But for vector multiplication, it does.

Answer 20

As far as linear algebra is concerned, in terms of vector spaces, a scalar is simply an element of the field associated with said vector space, such a field may well have negative as well as positive elements...

Answer 21

I'll stick with positive scalars (Like a physics major)

Answer 22

I was a physics major too, but I still use negative scalars :P

Answer 23

@.Sam. i agree with u

Answer 24

I think scalars can be negative, and speed is the exception rather than the rule.
but I haven't studied this extensively.

Answer 25

@.Sam. energy is a scalar and can be negative, eg potential energy.

Answer 26

Temperature (Kelvin) > No negative
Length, Area, Volume
Mass, Density

Answer 27

energy...

Answer 28

Then you will get negative mass...

Answer 29

@agent0smith isn't potential energy a vector?

Answer 30

are you saying PE can not be negative? it is scalar.

Answer 31

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/gpot.html#ui

Answer 32

A scalar can be negative if it has defined meaning.
negative time has no meaning, but negative energy has(it means energy is released or absorbed.)

Answer 33

guys, why are we arguing about this?

Answer 34

Because we can :P

also @.Sam. charge?

Answer 35

Scalar relating to mathematics or physics ?

Answer 36

and how are you defining scalar? are you defining it as the magnitude of a vector? or as something else?

Answer 37

Math is different from physics because you can choose what kind of rules you want to use as long as your reasoning is logical

Answer 38

http://www.physicsforums.com/archive/index.php/t-270612.html

Answer 39

"Any 'number' can be a scalar -- it's all a matter of what structure you're working with. There is nothing deep to it; it's simply a matter of definitions. And in the settings you're studying, letting "scalar" refer to any real number is the most useful definition."
The simplest way to look at it is to consider sets of real numbers. If there is only one number, it is a scalar (+ or -). If it is a pair of numbers it is a vector in the plane. If it is a triplet, it is a vector in three space.

Answer 40

I was about to post that @Peter14 :P

Answer 41

@Eyad scalars can be negative in physics - charge, gravitational PE

Answer 42

True

Answer 43

so it depends on the scalar?

Answer 44

It depends on the problem

Answer 45

For Solving this Question, I would like to ask you that, do you have the detailed conception of : Scalar

Answer 46

yep

Answer 47

...

Answer 48

haha @goformit100 :D assuming that was actually a joke...

Answer 49

"speed" is a scalar, "magnitude" is a scalar, but not all scalars are speed and magnitude.

Answer 50

I really need to stop reading these longer threads

Answer 51

the schitzophrenia helps :)

Answer 52

related post: http://openstudy.com/study#/updates/5180e86be4b0163f436ffc59